Long-term planning and development often take months or even years.  The Government has been striving to increase land supply through a multi-pronged strategy to meet the various needs of the society.  Earlier on, I have written a series of blog articles entitled “Embrace challenges in comprehensive site-searching”, “Work together to plan for the future”, and more on how we have been expanding land resources in a proactive manner for now and the future.  The Sustainable Lantau Blueprint (the Blueprint) that we have just promulgated is moving towards these goals under the overarching principle of “Development in the North, Conservation for the South” for Lantau.  We hope that more land will be provided for the development of Hong Kong to cater for our social, economic and conservation needs in the long run.  Let’s strive to build a consensus and plan for our future together.

Opportunities for sustainable development everywhere

Lantau not only is the largest island in Hong Kong, but also enjoys a strategic geographical location.  The completion of various infrastructure facilities in North Lantau, such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, Tung Chung New Town Extension and the Three-Runway System of the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), will facilitate the geographical and functional linkage between Hong Kong and the thriving Greater Pearl River Delta (PRD).  The infrastructure will also connect with the cross-boundary transport networks in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, i.e. nine cities in Guangdong Province and the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, so as to consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as international financial, transportation and trade centres, and to promote the development of financing services, business and commerce, logistics, professional services, innovation and technology industry, tourism, etc.  We strongly believe that Lantau will become Hong Kong’s international and regional gateway to the world and the Greater PRD.

Apart from economic contributions, it is equally important that Lantau also possesses precious natural and cultural assets, including rich cultural heritage, extensive country parks, well-preserved religious traditions, rich diversity of flora and fauna, as well as highly valuable ecological habitats.  I understand that there will be heated debates in the society whenever we touch on these issues.  But since Lantau is not only a treasure of nature and cultural conservation, but also a vital part of Hong Kong’s long-term sustainable development, we will definitely strive for a balance between development and conservation so as to address public concerns.

Balancing development and conservation

In 2016, the Lantau Development Advisory Committee (LanDAC) put forward various proposals for the development vision, strategic positioning and planning principles for Lantau.  We then conducted a three-month public engagement exercise on the proposals.  We have fully taken into account views of the public and the LanDAC when formulating the Blueprint by setting its vision as “Balancing development and conservation”.  We will also work towards the direction of “Development in the North, Conservation for the South” as a continuation of the 2007 Revised Concept Plan for Lantau.  The aim is to develop Lantau into a smart and low-carbon community for living, work, business, leisure and study.  This will benefit Hong Kong people by providing new opportunities associated with land and housing supply, the economy, business, commerce, leisure, recreation and tourism development, and at the same time enhancing the conservation of our natural, cultural and heritage assets.

Economic opportunities and quality of life

The Blueprint maps out the future direction of Lantau.  For “Development in the North”, North Lantau and the East Lantau Metropolis (ELM) will focus on housing and economic development projects so as to build a comfortable, liveable, smart, green and low-carbon community while promoting the overall economic development of Hong Kong.  Our recommendations include:

• Three smart and low-carbon communities: namely Tung Chung New Town Extension, Siu Ho Wan Development and the ELM.  Taking into account various large-scale development projects, Lantau as a whole has the potential to provide a comfortable home for a population of about 700 000 to 1 million.
  
• Two commercial and employment clusters: namely the commercial and employment clusters near the HKIA, and the third core business district – the ELM.  The large-scale development projects can as a whole provide some 470 000 jobs.
• Northeast Lantau Node – leisure, entertainment and tourism hub: creation of a Northeast Lantau Tourism Gateway which will become a year-round vacation destination for visitors.

Nature conservation, leisure and recreation

No doubt, we are well aware that the predominant part of Lantau, particularly South Lantau, has unique and beautiful landscape, rich biodiversity, valuable ecological habitats, precious historical and cultural heritage as well as traditional rural character.  We, therefore, would like to enhance nature conservation and provide sustainable leisure and recreational uses as appropriate so that more people can enjoy the natural environment and cultural assets in Lantau.  Regarding the direction of “Conservation for the South”, our recommendations include:

• Conservation: continuing to take forward the designation of four marine parks in Lantau waters and take Tai O, Pui O and Shui Hau as the pilot areas for implementing rural conservation policies, under which a series of nature conservation proposals will be implemented, including the initiatives to promote nature and cultural conservation and education; the Environment and Conservation Fund has earmarked $30 million in 2017-18 for conservation projects in South Lantau; strengthening land control through an inter-departmental working group to tackle the problem of illegal dumping.  Development at sites of conservation value will also be avoided.  In addition, we have set up a task force to hold discussions with stakeholders (including green groups, conservationists and local residents) about the conservation of the natural ecology, heritage and culture in Lantau.
• Sustainable leisure and recreational uses: construction of cycle tracks and mountain bike trails and training grounds; provision of camping grounds; enhancement of hiking/walking trails; provision of a water sports centre, a beach volley ball court, an adventure park, etc.
• Promotion of leisure and recreational activities: planting of seasonal flowers or themed trees for public enjoyment and promotion of eco-tours, etc.

It can be seen from the above that the Blueprint outlines various measures to enhance the conservation of Lantau’s ecological habitats, historical and cultural heritage as well as traditional rural character to offer Hong Kong people a more pleasurable experience to enjoy the natural and cultural landscapes of Lantau, and at the same time creates opportunities for the long-term development of Hong Kong.  Over the years, whenever we talked about the development and conservation of Lantau, it seemed that there were inevitably contradictions between the two.  In fact, the Blueprint has just proved that development and conservation can complement each other.  Let’s seize the opportunity and shape a sustainable Lantau together with mutual trust.  I am sure that Hong Kong will become even more vibrant and dynamic in future.

Documents of the Blueprint and details of the related publicity activities are available on the following website: http://www.lantau.gov.hk/.